Attention All Walmart Shoppers!

Does Walmart sell those crystals that expand when you add water? I think they'd be in the floral or craft section.

I'm pretty far from a Walmart so I wanna be sure they have what I want before heading all the way over there!

I've seen them in the gardening section in the spring...they had several varieties. Why don't you call first? That would save gas.

I have seen them at Lowes. Never seen them at the Walmarts we frequent.
Pam

I saw a small, 8 oz bottle of SCHULTZ water crystals for $7.70.
I got mine from watersorb over the net, 12# $55.
sidney

Michelle, what are you going to use them for? I bought some years ago and mixed them in with the potting soil to plant my Begonias in. Well, let me tell you that the roots got into those things and could not get out. The worst I have ever had Begonias grow, not grow, for me. They were stunted.

Is that what you were going to do with them? Are they called Polymers?

Jeanette

Really?! I was going to do that and also try seeds in them. Rooting too.

You go right ahead. You never know unless you try. I may have done something wrong. It was the first year I had heard of them and I thought it was such a smart idea.

Let us know how they turn out.

Jeanette

Will do!

Look here http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/477145/ and shop here. http://www.watersorb.com/prices.htm Much less $.
I put them in my sand to slow the water down.
It perks at 55mph.
sidney

www.charleysgreenhouse.com has Soil Moist also. $12.95 for 1 lb and 21.95 for 2 lb

On ebay, jerseymarket has the cheapest I have seen and he cuts a deal on shipping if you buy more than one. His are $9.99 for 2 pounds. The shipping is like $4.75 for the first package and only a few bucks more to add a second one. Easy to deal with and you get it quick! My total was around $27 for 4 pounds of the stuff plus shipping. :) Here ya go. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20540&item=3981716608&rd=1

Yup, chele's right about that guy. He even offers free shipping on some of his ebay posts. At least he did last year when I came across him and ordered. Which rminds me that I need to order some more from him.
Chele how are they working out for you?

I bought some from ebay. I took about a tablespoon for experienmenting. I added water and it soaked it up, repeated about 7 times and it's grown to 64 oz.!! Now I need to find stuff to use my test sample on.

If you are planning on using these crystals in a container planting, be sure to use the suggested amount, mix them into the soil, water thoroughly, and then wait a while before planting the plants.

The first time I tried them (late one evening), I didn't follow any of the rules. When I checked on them the next morning, I found all my newly planted plants either on the ground or just hanging on for their dear lives. Yikes! The crystals had absorbed the water, expanded and pushed most everything on top out of the container.

They work great now that I've learned to follow the rules.

I mix them with water before I use them. When transplanting I put the Soil Moist right at the roots. I've never had a problem planting this way. The used them on my tomato transplants in pots a few years ago. One of the pots was bone dry and the plant did not look wilted at all. When I planted it, the roots were nice and moist.

here's a WM trick you can use if you want to run someone around the store...

WM will never sell anything at xx.99. Golden rule. It can be .98 or .00 but never .99.
It seems like everyone has worked at WM at one time or another but you'd be surprised how often you can have a sudden giving urge and offer to buy someone ANYTHING they can find that end in 99 cents.

I made my 2 youngest DD's leave a store after 3 hours one time. :)

I use the miracel gro moisture control soil that someone suggested. It has worked great for me.

I went to a garden party at a local greenhouse a few years back, and the owner said he and his wife get big bags of those cheap sponges (like at Big Lots) and cut them into little chunks. Then, they put some in each pot at the root area as they pot up plants. He said they work great -- they have had hanging baskets not need watering for 4 days.

I tried them a few years ago. Bought a 2lb jar for $32. Put some in the soil of my hanging basket and next day the crystals expanded and were all at the top of the basket. Scared the livin daylites out of me as I thought I had some type of a weird fungus ! However they do work but use sparingly. One teaspoon per basket is enough and put it down first followed by the soil. I still have, it seems, 2lbs as you use so little so unless you have a truck farm buy a small amount. It really goes a long way. Don't use much anymore for 95% of my gardeening is in earthboxes and the granules are not necessary for them.

We call those things [Hydro Crystals]
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Tha DW makes a cloth tube with ends to tie around you neck.
In the section that goes around your neck she sews across & puts in about a tsp of the crystals and sews that across.
-
The crystals are retained and tha rest uses as a tie.
Clear as mud !

The tube is appx 2" wide and long as ya want.
Once yu soak your (hydro bandana) our crystals pick up 50 times their weight it ties around your neck.

They cool the blood going to your brain.
Evaporative cooling.
______________________

The old canvas water bags they use to put on the hood of cars sorked tha same way. Desert heat out side and cool water in tha bag.

Can I use this on established plantings? Does anyone know of a proven method for adding this to plants in the ground? Do I dig everything up and add it to the roots? Do I dig cores among the plantings?

Thanks,

Maggie

Just mix a couple of tablespoons in with the soil. However, it is better if you can go deep.

I dug cores, down enough so the crystals were near the roots.

Don't be surprised if some of them pop-up to the top. Mine did...

Try putting the SAP in a dishpan of water for 2 or 3 days; let them expand. Then into the soil at the level you feel will be most helpful. Otherwise the SAP will not expand to full size and will even push up to the surface.